Mic/Nite to Showcase Faculty Research from All Colleges October 28

Got seven minutes? That’s all you’ll need to learn about some unique research happening on campus.

Eleven faculty members will present their research on subjects ranging from killer tornadoes in Tennessee to the supernatural power of dogs at this fall’s Mic/Nite on October 28 at the Relix Variety Theatre, 1208 North Central Avenue. The event will begin with a 5:30 p.m. social hour, including pizza and a cash bar. Presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Mic/Nite is a Pecha-Kucha-powered social gathering to enhance the intellectual, interdisciplinary, and cultural life of UT faculty and staff. Pecha-Kucha (pronounced peh-CHAKH-cha) is a lecture format originating in Tokyo, in which presenters discuss twenty images for twenty seconds each. Since 2003, the lecture format has spread to more than 400 cities around the world, including Knoxville.

The free event is open only to faculty, staff, and their spouses or partners, and those attending are encouraged to RSVP to be eligible for door prizes.

Here’s the lineup of Mic/Nite’s rapid-fire presentations:

“Beyond Combat: The Phenomenological Experience of Military Personnel, Veterans, Families, and Communities.” Camille Hall, associate professor of social work, will explore the effects of deployment and combat stress on the physical and mental health of US veterans, active duty service members, and their families.

“How the American South Transformed the World.” Tore Olsson, assistant professor of history, will demonstrate how twentieth-century efforts to overcome poverty in the region became a model for accomplishing similar goals in places such as Mexico, India, and Afghanistan.

“Imperfect Information on Physical Activity and Caloric Intake.” Matt Harris, research assistant professor at the Center for Business and Economic Research, will discuss the link between overeating and inaccurately estimating physical activity.

“Perception of and Expectations for Involvement in the College Drinking Culture Among First Semester College Men and Women: A Mixed Methods Study.” Spencer Olmstead, assistant professor of child and family studies, will talk about alcohol-related education and intervention for first-year college students.

“Reading under the Blackened Mess: Revision and the Eighteenth-Century Novel.” Hilary Havens, assistant professor of English, will talk about the eighteenth-century creative mind and how she’s using new methodologies to recover deleted text.

“If a Tornado Touches Down and No One is Around to See It …” Kelsey Ellis, assistant professor of geography, will look at research aimed at better understanding tornado formation and societal risks in the Southeast.

“Dog Tales.” Tami Wyatt, professor of nursing, will examine how dogs use their extraordinary gifts of hearing and sensing to trust, work, serve, and heal.

“Technology for Empowerment: Open Source Software.” Vandana Singh, associate professor of information science, will explain how technology and open source software have impacted and empowered libraries, librarians, and communities in the Appalachian region.

“Grade Calculus: Playing Games with Undergraduate Education and Letting Them Take Responsibility for Learning.” Brandon Horvath, assistant professor of plant sciences, will talk about how the dynamics from games students play outside the classroom can increase their engagement in class.

“Symmetry and the Design of Antidiscrimination Law.” Bradley Areheart, associate professor of law, will propose a new way of thinking about antidiscrimination laws.

“Connecting Landscapes with Rivers: Challenges and Future Directions.” Thanos Papanicolaou, professor of civil and environmental engineering, will discuss his vision to identify the ecological, economic, and ethical metrics that impact our ability to achieve conservation goals.